DETROIT, MI — Former U.S. House Rep. Thaddeus McCotter told investigators his staffers panicked and unintentionally cost him his congressional seat when they failed to collect enough signatures to get him on the 2012 Republican primary ballot, according to an Associated Press report.

"When I went to bed, everything was fine. I woke up, I was ruined," McCotter said to investigators from the attorney general's office, according to a transcript of the 90-minute June interview obtained by the A.P.

for Seewald and Yowchuang. He told the court he was in Hawaii when he got word of the lack of enough valid signatures.

McCotter told the investigators in June that he doubted anyone intentionally sabotaged his campaign.

"These are two guys that I've trusted with my life," McCotter said, according to the A.P. report. "And I don't believe they'd do anything purposefully, but I could see them panicking if they let something slide. And I think Mr. Yowchuang may have had that happen."

Yowchuang, 33, accused of photocopying and delivering the bogus signatures, is charged with forgery and conspiracy. Seewald, 47, accused of signing petitions as a circulator without actually gathering the names, is charged with conspiracy.

Defense attorneys argue that felony charges are too severe.

District Judge Judge Sean Cavanagh plans to rule in an Oct. 23 hearing whether there is enough evidence for the men to face trial. Turnbull is being prosecuted separately.